NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AP) -- Louisiana cockfighters and breeders have sued the federal government, claiming its ban on shipping fighting birds discriminates against Cajuns and Hispanics because cockfighting is integral to their culture.

The federal lawsuit was filed in Lafayette on May 23, nine days after a law banning the interstate transfer of cockfighting birds went into effect.

The law denies equal protection to Cajuns and Hispanics in Louisiana -- two groups that widely practice cockfighting, said John R. Kramer, a Tulane University law professor representing the United Gamefowl Breeders Association, two breeders, two owners of fighting birds and an arena that hosts cockfights.

The suit also contends the law unfairly targets Louisiana. Cockfighting is illegal in every state except Louisiana -- where it generates an estimated $150 million annually -- and New Mexico.

"The suit contends that the federal government should not be imposing its judgment on Louisiana -- that's not federalism, that's moral imperialism," Kramer said. "They're dissing them, and dissing is not American."

Wayne Pacelle, senior vice president with the Humane Society of the United States, a staunch opponent of cockfighting, said Congress has the authority to regulate interstate commerce, and that he is confident the suit will fail.

"This is a desperate move by a desperate industry whose core activity is illegal in 48 states," Pacelle said.

When AZ outlawed cockfighting, a few years ago, it was claimed that the state was infringing on Hispanic culture.

I've been acquainted with a few breeders and cockfighters and every last one of them was Anglo. I am also acquainted with a considerable number of Hispanics (my daughter-in-law's family included) and NONE of them participate in cockfighting.

In cockfighting the birds are supposed to fight to the death. This doesn't always happen in bullfighting and bullfighting is also a part of hispanic culture. I suppose this means Nazis can claiming killing Jews is a part of their culture and should therefore be legal?

Why continue something so incredibly cruel just because it's always been that way?